FOOTWEAR NEWS 31ST FN ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Footwear News, the industry bible of the shoe business for more than 70 years, presented the 31stFN Achievement Awards at IAC Headquarters in New York City, where Ruffino Wines was exclusively poured. The 2017 FN Achievement Awards highlighted both rising stars and industry legends. The annual event, often referred to as the “Shoe Oscars,” recognizes and celebrates the best and brightest stars in the footwear industry. The A-list night consisted of fashion moguls, industry VIPs and top-tier celebrities, such as Hailey Baldwin, Caroline Vreeland, Alexa Chung, Tommy Hilfiger, Steve Madden, Stan Smith and so many more (full list below), gathering together to celebrate achievements in footwear while enjoying Ruffino’s “Ruby Slipper” prosecco cocktail.

During her acceptance speech for Style Influencer of the Year, Hailey Baldwin discussed being inspired by streetwear, stating: “I’m very inspired by the youth, constantly, and if I’ve inspired even just one person then I feel like I’m doing something right.”

Steve Madden took the stage to accept his award for Company of the Year, jesting in his acceptance speech, “I thought Ivanka Trump was gonna be here… but I’m glad she’s not!”

While accepting the award for Shoe of the Year, Virgil Abloh highlighted the importance of keeping the “intern spirit” alive in order to disrupt the fashion industry with new ideas. He ended his speech by encouraging the crowd to high-five their interns tomorrow.

After Roy Luwolt accepted the Vivian Infantino Emerging Talent Award on behalf of Malone Souliers, presenter Jill Kargmanannounced that Luwolt has just been revealed as the new global CEO of Emanuel Ungaro.